Think
about music that talks from the depths of the emotions that we all
feel, that delicate yet desperate place where only truth will suffice.
It’s that aching, smoky place where blues music returns to
its origins and takes on its true power. For blues artist Craig
Sinclair this place is the inspiration for a unique brand of folk-blues
music which draws the listener into an articulate and heartfelt
world of story, melody and mesmerizing guitar sounds.
Craig Sinclair combines crisp fingerstyle slide
guitar playing with soulful vocals and contemporary original folk-blues
songwriting to craft a unique style that draws on many rich traditions,
but in the end answers to itself.
“A consummate live performer”
(Peter Barr, RTR FM 92.1), Craig has quickly progressed to shows
at major venues and events including Fremantle Arts Centre, Araluen
Folk Festival, Bridgetown Blues Festival, Wignalls Vintage Blues
Festival, Denmark Festival of Voice, Fairbridge Folk Festival and Yungaburra Folk
Festival (Qld). An east coast tour in January 2007 saw him perform
between Melbourne and Byron Bay, at some of Australia’s proudest
original music venues. Bookings have been made for the 2008 Bridgetown
Blues, Fleurieu Folk (SA) and Folk in Broke (NSW) Festivals.
The debut solo album, “Stones Beneath The
Surface”, was released in May 2006 and launched in front of
his home crowd in Fremantle to a packed house at Mojo's Music Bar.
Since then it has received spot play on Triple J and ABC National
radio, been featured on RTR FM as well as receiving extensive airplay
on community radio stations around Australia. The song Downstream
Blues was recently awarded "Best Blues Song" in the
2006 WA Folk Federation songwriting competition (click
here to listen).
This release was followed up with a live album
of new original material entitled “Barefoot Ballads”
in December 2007. Recorded in an art gallery just a stone’s
throw from the Indian Ocean in Fremantle, this album captures an
artist in his element as a solo performer. The song Rusting
Armour was a finalist in the 2007 WAM Song of the Year (folk/world
category) while the song Lara Clare was awarded first prize
in the 2007 WAM Song of the Year (blues/roots category) (click
here to listen). This album has already been picked
up by the ABC and early press reviews have been glowing in their
praise: “a quite exceptional recording by a wonderful
artist” (Drum Media Perth).
"an impressive debut album"
(The Fremantle Herald)
"a talented local singer and guitarist
with some fascinating lyrics and wonderful melodies... returns to
popular acclaim" (Mundaring Folk & Blues Club)
"a guitar virtuoso" (Eric Bogle)
"it's refreshing to see something this
honest and individual in the modern day blues and roots genre"
(Mike Elrington)
"A wonderful, tranquil cd ... Craig's
slide gives me goosebumps and cold shivers, a sign for me that this
is the best" (Ron Bervoets, Rootstime Radio, Belgium)
"Stones Beneath the Surface, Craig Sinclair’s
debut solo album, is a left-handed, bluesy tour through the mind
of a very talented guitarist and songsmith. It opens with some beautiful
guitar picking, which sets the mood for the whole album and describes
Craig’s art perfectly; modest, restrained and soulful."
(Cran Herlihy, KCR 102.5 FM)
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